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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 29, 2020 16:04:24 GMT -5
OFF THE RACKS Real reviews by real readers. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 30, 2020 8:08:27 GMT -5
Darth Vader #3Written by Greg Pak Art by Raffaele Ienco Summary:Vader returns to Naboo in the company of Sabe(Padme's former body guard) to uncover who entered his wife's tomb.
Plot: While I certainly didn't want this story to drag on forever as Pak's storylines in his previous run on Star Wars tended to do this issue went a little too fast which made the payoff feel more than a little hollow. And yet despite that haste to reach the finish line...there's still yet another issue? I just don't understand the pacing, rather than rushing to the end only to extend said ending why not use that time to flesh out Sabe and Captain Typho so that when Vader eventually escapes their death trap and mows them down you actually feel something? It's a question we'll never know the answer to and it definitely could have been done and Pak still could have included some of the call backs to Episodes One and Two but since he didn't the ending will ultimately be sadly predictable which is a shame as the story had a lot of potential in exploring the self relationship between Vader and Anakin.
Art: Ienco mostly delivers the goods, giving us lovely recreations of the idyllic landscapes of Naboo we(or atleast I) all loved from the prequels. However, when it came to the Dark Lord of the Sith himself Ienco did tend to run into trouble as he seemed to loose the precise angles of that make up Vader's face when attempting to show him from some angles and especially in action scenes.
Grade:5/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 30, 2020 9:14:21 GMT -5
Hedraby Jesse Lonergan Summary: Ravaged by a nuclear war the world sends a lone astronaut into the void in an attempt to bring life to a dying world.
Plot: Wow.
Just... Wow.
No, I mean that seriously, that could be the only word I wrote in review of this book and it would probably give you a more accurate appraisal of the quality of Lonergan's work than the string of a hundred others I will inevitably scrawl here ever could. Completely devoid of any dialogue this short 48 page story none the less gives you an emotionally deep dive into space that echos Kubric and Clark's 2001: Space Odyssey, Burroughs John Carter of Mars and strangely even Swift's Guliver's Travels. It's a book that appears simplistic on the surface but has depths that will have you returning to it again and again and you'll find something new each time. On top of all that Lonergan's, almost minimalist primary color focused color pallet is like velvet on the eyes it's just that smooth. If you're a fan of sci-fi or just the comics medium in general you need to pick this up now.
Immediately.
Stop reading this right now, leave this page and go out and buy this book.
You can thank me after.
∞/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 30, 2020 9:55:49 GMT -5
John Constantine: Hellblazer #8Written by Simon Spurrier Art by Aaron Campbell Summary: With the help of Constantine a spurned mermaid gets to deliver justice to her abusive former lover.
Plot: After the utterly mind blowing and heart breaking way the last issue ended I had been anxiously awaiting the conclusion and while this issue didn't reach the heights of the first part it was none the less another great chapter in an already amazing run. I've read this issue twice now and even reread the preceding issue again as well and I still can't escape the feeling that something was missing in the conclusion but what that element is I can't truly pin down. The mood is still dark and gritty, the characterization is in some ways even deeper in this issue as we see John actually show a tiny sliver of remorse while still feeling one percent in character for Constantine...but it lacks that nearly magical quality the first part of Britania, Rule the Waves continues to hold over me. Maybe it's the inclusion of actual violence, or the shift in point of view from the mermaid to John but although still strong in it's noir vibe and a good read it just doesn't pack the emotional punch the last issue (and to a slightly lesser extent even #6) had but perhaps when the bar is set as high as this run has placed it you're bound to be slightly let down sooner or later, but even then in comparison to a lot of what's on the stands beside this issue is still high up there in terms of quality.
Art: Campbell’s art continues to be a real high mark on this run, delivering a series of truly horrific yet human images that hammer home just where true evil lurks. His scratchy yet realistic style really strikes the perfect tone for this story; it's beautifully dark and yet you never lose the details in the shadows which really plays to that noir feel of the story.
Grade:8/10
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jul 30, 2020 11:03:10 GMT -5
Hedraby Jesse Lonergan Summary: Ravaged by a nuclear war the world sends a lone astronaut into the void in an attempt to bring life to a dying world.
Plot: Wow.
Just... Wow.
No, I mean that seriously, that could be the only word I wrote in review of this book and it would probably give you a more accurate appraisal of the quality of Lonergan's work than the string of a hundred others I will inevitably scrawl here ever could. Completely devoid of any dialogue this short 48 page story none the less gives you an emotionally deep dive into space that echos Kubric and Clark's 2001: Space Odyssey, Burroughs John Carter of Mars and strangely even Swift's Guliver's Travels. It's a book that appears simplistic on the surface but has depths that will have you returning to it again and again and you'll find something new each time. On top of all that Lonergan's, almost minimalist primary color focused color pallet is like velvet on the eyes it's just that smooth. If you're a fan of sci-fi or just the comics medium in general you need to pick this up now.
Immediately.
Stop reading this right now, leave this page and go out and buy this book.
You can thank me after.
∞/10 Holy wow. Okay, I will... |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2020 17:04:10 GMT -5
 Wonder Woman #759. Written by Mariko Tamaki. Art by Mikel Janin. A new creative team. Tamaki sets up her run on this title really well. Her portrayal of Diana is perfect. She spends most of the issue "introducing" WW and getting the pieces in place. And then she hits you with an awesome last scene with Diana coming face to face with Maxwell Lord. Janin's art is just gorgeous to look at. If this creative team can maintain this tone and style for an extended period WW is in good hands. This issue was well done for both new & long time readers... 9/10. |
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Post by Dizzy D on Jul 31, 2020 3:13:38 GMT -5
I don't think my shop will have Hedra (I saw it in the releases and was interested, but the preorder system works against indie oneshots).
I did get another title:
X-Factor #1. Written by Leah Williams. Art by David Baldeon.
Summary: The new team is established on Krakoa to investigate missing and dead mutants.
Plot: Northstar senses that is sister Aurora has died. He asks the Five (for those who have not been reading X-Men this last year, mutants now live on Krakoa and the Five are five mutants who togeter are capable of resurrecting dead mutants) to resurrect her, but they need proof first (one of the big rules is that they don't want duplicates running around so all deaths must be confirmed). Sage, who is tasked with confirming those deaths is too busy with all different kinds of tasks to investigate, so Northstar investigates himself.
Polaris sees him investigating and decides to help him out. She finds a couple of other available mutants to assist (Prodigy, Prestige (Rachel Summers for us oldies), Eyeboy and Daken invites himself along). The six together quickly solve the case; Aurora was in Vancouver meeting a date, but it was a setup by a mutant-hater to kill her. She dies in a car-accident, but the killer himself miscalculated and is hit by the car he sabotaged.
Polaris provides her findings to the Council (the leading group of mutants on Krakoa) and establishes the need for an investigative team. The Five and the Council agree, but Polaris refuses leadership, nominating Northstar instead.
Art: Not the biggest fan of Baldeon, but his art is cartoony and works with the team, that despite the murder investigation is not a dark story with some fun elements.
Writing: I really liked the writing, Polaris for the first time in a long, long while gets a personality and is a healthy place mentally. Williams remembered that Polaris was the one who originally killed Krakoa, so there is a special bond between her and the island. Her experience with the previous X-Factor investigations makes her a valuable member for a team of detectives and most of the other characters are also natural investigators. The team's mandate gives them a good hook for further stories.
8/10.
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Post by Icctrombone on Jul 31, 2020 5:03:33 GMT -5
So it's official. Comics are back ?
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 6:17:45 GMT -5
Hedraby Jesse Lonergan Summary: Ravaged by a nuclear war the world sends a lone astronaut into the void in an attempt to bring life to a dying world.
Plot: Wow.
Just... Wow.
No, I mean that seriously, that could be the only word I wrote in review of this book and it would probably give you a more accurate appraisal of the quality of Lonergan's work than the string of a hundred others I will inevitably scrawl here ever could. Completely devoid of any dialogue this short 48 page story none the less gives you an emotionally deep dive into space that echos Kubric and Clark's 2001: Space Odyssey, Burroughs John Carter of Mars and strangely even Swift's Guliver's Travels. It's a book that appears simplistic on the surface but has depths that will have you returning to it again and again and you'll find something new each time. On top of all that Lonergan's, almost minimalist primary color focused color pallet is like velvet on the eyes it's just that smooth. If you're a fan of sci-fi or just the comics medium in general you need to pick this up now.
Immediately.
Stop reading this right now, leave this page and go out and buy this book.
You can thank me after.
∞/10 Holy wow. Okay, I will... It won't disappoint. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,867
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Post by shaxper on Jul 31, 2020 6:18:30 GMT -5
Holy wow. Okay, I will... It won't disappoint. Already purchased the Kindle version and read it once. You're not wrong about needing to read it multiple times! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 6:34:26 GMT -5
Already purchased the Kindle version and read it once. You're not wrong about needing to read it multiple times! Yeah, for a story with no words it is beyond dense, there's just so much there that you can pick up on little things you may have missed in the last reading. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 8:34:42 GMT -5
Plunge #5Written by Joe Hill Art by Stuart Immonen Summary: Safe aboard their ship MacReady and his crew learn what's beyond the hatch, but opening it has its pitfalls.
Plot: In this penultimate issue Joe Hill really starts to reveal just what is going on with the worms and what they want and while it isn't an earth-shatteringly original motivation for a horde of aliens(they desire to breed) the build up we've gotten thus far makes up for it well enough. Despite the somewhat predictable reveal the strong focus on the crew continues to draw you into the plot; their fear, anger and desperation feel genuinely real and it's easy to empathize with their actions because of that. So while not as surprising a horror story as I had originally hoped for the mood is solid and the tense character work definitely has me locked into the finale.
Art: Though the plot itself might be slightly flat the art by Immonen more than makes up for those deficiencies. Immonen's skill at portraying body language and facial expressions really highlights the strength of this story, it's not the alien menace that's the true horror here but the darkness that gnaws within in people.
Grade:7/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 9:19:39 GMT -5
Batman: The Adventures Continue #9Written by Alan Burnett and Paul Dini Art by Ty Templeton  Summary: When Bruce uncovers a gun at the Joker's hideout he finds a print on one of the remaining bullets that shouldn't exist.
Plot: This is the story we've been waiting for, after all the little scenes of build up in the previous issues Dini and Burnett finally introduce us to how Jason Todd would have worked in the world of the animated series. Reintroducing a character I love like Jason Todd was never going to be an easy task but it's one I was looking forward to and while the execution may never be the definitive origin of Todd in my mind it is none the less a solid read blending that fun late bronze age feel with the style of the animated series in a way that felt totally cohesive. I think the real highlight here was that in this retelling of Jason's origin we see a real reason for Bruce taking him in despite his rough edges as Jason was on the path to vigilantism on his own with out Batman so having Bruce take him in was a logical way to steer him in the right direction. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out against the rest of the Batfamily, but I'm hoping that despite it all Jason is shown to someone finds his way despite his flaws with out too much preaching from the others.
Art: I don't often post images in these reviews these days but I just couldn't help myself here as Templeton really nailed the look of those title cards used in the animated series so well I couldn't help from smiling.
Grade:7/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 9:51:01 GMT -5
So it's official. Comics are back ? Yeah, we're past the point of shelved issues coming out and are starting to come back to where new projects are starting up. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 31, 2020 10:18:27 GMT -5
Lost Soldiers #1Written by Ales Kot Art by Luca Casalanguida Summary: Soldiers of the Vietnam War find themselves engaged in the War on Drugs along the southern border.
Plot: I've read this issue a few times now(it was actually the third book I read this week) and I'm still not entirely sure what to make of it. While I really liked the portrayal of war as something legitimately horrible and not just some lazy way to make a character seem tough, and the characterization of Burke and Kowalski was very strong I'm not really sure where it's going or why the two time frames of 1969 Vietnam and current day Mexico were chosen and what these men's lives will ultimately say. That said there's more than enough to keep me interested; there's a depth of emotions here that draws you and makes you want to see and know more. Hopefully things become clearer as the story progresses.
Art: I think a lot of my optimism about where this story could go comes from just how beautiful the art is. Casalanguida doesn't shy away from the horrors of war and here he has a knack of not only portraying the physical effects but also the mental tole as we saw ghostly images of battle transparently overlayed over the shell shocked Burke just sitting in the middle of a crowded mess hall. It's a small detail but it really gets you into the character's head in a quick, but beautiful way.
Grade: 7/10 |
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